At 09:05 PM 10/10/97 -0700, you wrote:

>How can we organize if we are focusing on bashing each other? Can't
>there be a positive discussion regarding the best way to raise funds?

Sure, many birders and other outdoor recreationists have spoken favorably
of Teaming With Wildlife, the initiative to institute an excise tax
just like hunters pay on ammo, with the proceeds to go to habitat
aquisition and management.

Of course, it is just such concepts that the "antis" have argued
atainst.

>For example, shall we try to target just outdoor minded people with
>taxes or go for all tax payers?

All taxpayers pay a portion towards conservation, and Congress has made
it very clear over decades they won't fully fund conservation efforts
from the general fund.

Hunters recognized this like 60 years ago, and prodded Congress to pass
P-R.

60 years later, birders still are asking if we can't dodge our responsibility
and make all taxpayers pay the full cost to implement our desires for
habitat aquisition and the like. The hunters were right, 60 years ago,
Congress won't. Birders should stop asking a question that we know the
answer to.

The nice thing about P-R funds is that they flow to conservation even
when Congress and the Pres are anti-conservation. It's in the law. Even
if it were revoked, funds collected to that point would have to be applied
to conservation efforst.

> Would birders feel better if we could
>be singled out along with hunters and anglers so that we too can add to
>state conservation budgets?

No, birders mostly seem quite clear on feeling better over being singled out
by not having to pay for conservation, while hunters and anglers do, and while
they often vent their spleen at hunters.

> Is taxing binos and bird seed going to get us to pay all our dues?

It will be a big step in that direction. When we talk to ODF&W about
competing uses for refuges, the hunters walk in and say "heh heh heh,
we bought it, fuck off birders". Imagine how nice it will be to walk
into a management meeting saying "hey, *we* bought this one!"

The earth may not stop, but it will hiccup from absolute surprise
that any group other than hunters have stepped forward to tax themselves
to fund conservation.

This whole discussion is about to make me go out and learn to hunt, which
I've never done, just so I can be on the good side, i.e. those
who willingly pay taxes for conservation.

> But my point is that the methods for raising funds are up
>for debate.

Well, much of this debate has been whether or not we birders should
raise funds at all, or speak up at all, not over the specifics.

>I think I'll buy a hunting license tomorrow so when I see the "other
>guys" out in the field I won't feel too guilty.

Exactly. Then you won't have to feel such a leech (actually, many
people, many birders actually, non-hunterers, used to buy duck stamps
- we used to sell them at Portland Audubon. Apparently, tbough, today's
birders and folks don't do that as often).



- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>
Nature photos, on-line guides, and other goodies at
http://donb.photo.net